Objective:
The objective of this lesson is to equip learners with strategic approaches to enhance their listening skills, focusing on how strategic planning and forethought can bolster these skills’ effectiveness. By the end of this lesson, learners should be able to apply these strategies in various real-world scenarios, such as workplace meetings, negotiations, or everyday conversations, to achieve better communication outcomes.
Comprehensive Content Overview:
Listening skills are essential for effective communication. They involve more than just hearing words; they require active engagement and thoughtful response. The key aspects of listening include:
- Active Listening: Fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and remembering what is being said..
- Empathetic Listening: Understanding the speaker’s feelings, needs, and viewpoint..
- Critical Listening: Evaluating the message’s content and implications critically..
- Reflective Listening: Rephrasing and summarizing what the speaker has said to confirm understanding..
In-depth Explanations with Actionable Insights:
Active Listening: To actively listen, one must be fully present in the conversation, avoiding distractions and preconceptions. An actionable approach is the “SOLER” technique:
- Squarely face the speaker..
- Maintain an Open posture..
- Lean slightly towards the speaker..
- Maintain Eye contact..
- Remain Relaxed but attentive..
Example: In a team meeting, use SOLER by turning your chair to face the colleague speaking, uncross your arms, lean forward to show interest, maintain eye contact, and relax your shoulders to show openness.
Empathetic Listening: This involves sensing the emotions behind the speaker’s words ...
